Is this the future of your Nexus 7? Cider is a new program that enables users to run iOS apps on any Android device – and have access to all their Apple content.

A day where Android users can have full access to Apple’s App Store may be with us sooner rather than later. Six students at Columbia University have developed Cider, a piece of software that enables users to access a wide library of iOS apps across their Android devices. You can watch a demo video here.

As well as bridging the gap between both operating systems, Cider has also been created for users to have a single device for their app content, instead of needing multiple devices.

The project isn’t currently without its limitations however, with members of the research team pointing out that Apple apps tend to run slightly slower on Android devices and there are performance issues with Bluetooth and GPS systems not working properly. The research team has said that Cider is currently just a prototype, and as of yet, there are no plans to turn it into a widely available product that everyday users will have access to whenever they might need it.

What iOS apps would you run on your Android device if you could or do you think Android apps are superior to anything on iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments section below!

This news story first appeared in Android Magazine issue 39, which is on sale now.